Skylight construction.



M. SILVERMAN.

SKYLIGHT CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION man MAY8.1916.

Patented Mar. 13, 191?.

man STATES-PATENT i OFFICE. f

Moams srnvnnmniv, or cursado, rumors, Assrenon 'ro LYNN. WILLIAMS, or

CHICAGO, :minors 'Application med my s, 191s. serial No. 96,038. Y

-To all wwmz't may concern:

` Be it known that I, MORRIS SILVERMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county ofCook and State of Illinois, have invented, acertain new and usefulImprovement in Skylight Construction, of which the following is a full, clear,

concise, and exact description, reference being had to the :accompanying drawings,

forming apart of this specification. y

My invention relates to means for flexibly supporting the glass panes in a skylight structure to permit ot' relative movement between the panes and the supporting mem; bers'when expansion and contraction of the parts occur.

Une of the objects of the invention is to provide means whereby the flexible mountmgs, or more specifically the springs, maybe located on the inner side of the glass panes, thusA protecting the mountings from corrosion, etc.

A further object of the invention is the provision of -a flexible mounting which permits the glass panes to have movement in v either direction at right angles thereto, or.in

other words, to have movement either inwardly' or outwardly relative to-their supporting means.

These and other features of my invention will be clearly set forth in the following description in which reference is made to the accompanying drawing, wherein- I Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device o my invention, some of the parts being broken away to more clearly illustrate the construction thereof, and

Fig. 2 is a Avertical cross sectional view of the device taken longitudinally through th parts illustrated in Fig.v 1.

Similar' characters of reference refer to similar partsthroughout both views.

ln Fig. 1, 3 illustrates a support of wood, concrete or metal, to which issecured an angle iron 4. Fixed tothe angle iron 4 by means of the clips 5 and 6 is a channel bar 7, which lies" at'r right angles to the supportling member 3. The screws 8.and 9 which connect the clipsi and 6 respectively with the channel 7 extend through the channel and into an inverted U' member 10as illusl through which extends a bolt or rod 12 ter'' minating at.its lower end in a flange or en` larged head 13. I

The upper end of the rod 12 is provided with the shoulder 13 from' which. extends a vthreaded shank 14 arranged t9 cooperate with the nut 15. A compression spring 16 is disposed around the lower 'end of the rod 12 andarranged to act between the inverted U-member 10 and the flange 13 of the rod 12, so that there is a tendency, due to the tension of the spring 16, to force the rod or bolt 12 downwardly. As most clearly illustrated in Fig. 1, the rod 12 extendsbetween-the edges 'ofthe glass panes 17 and 18 and through inthe felt strips 19 andv 20, so that the rods 12, have `free play vthrough the packing means. Resting against the underside of the corrugated strip 22 is an inverted cup 23 provided with a central aperture 24, through which the bolt or rod 12 extends. Acting between the channel bar 7 and the underside of the cup 23 is a helical compression spring 25, which, as illustrated in Fig. 1, extends around the upturned portion of the inverted U member 10. This spring 25 is capable of withstanding Vapproximately 240 pounds per square foot without deflection, so that theweight of a man placed upon the corrugatedstrip 21 'will not cause down ward' movement of vthe 'glass panes at the point at which the weight is applied. The

be lifted above the basechannel bar 7 against the tensionY of the spring 16. The nut 15 which screws upon the shank 14 serves to engage the .upper face of the strip 21 and thus prevents downward movement of th rod 12 independently of the packing means and thus 'of the glass plates.

The channel ,bar 7 which extends under Aand parallel with .the adjacent edges of the glasspanes 17 and 18 serves the purpose of catching the moisture of condensation or any moisture which may succeed in passing the packing strips 19 and 20. It will he observed from the description thus tar given that all the springs are positioned on the inside of the glass panes, so that they are entirely protected from the weather. (ln account of the double spring mounting the panes are permitted to move in both directions, either upwardly or downwardly against the tensions otl the springs 1b and 25 respectively. Due to the inverted cup 23, the pressure of the spring 25 is concentrated at only a small area ot' the under corrugated strip 22, so that the panes are permitted to rock easily upon their support when expansion or contraction of the parts occurs.

lue to the large tension of the spring 25 I have found it advisable in assemblingr the parts to provide a bolt or rod 12 which can be enlarged longitudinally. \Vith this end in view I construct the rod 12 of two parts, a lower part 2G and an upper part 27. The lower portion 2G is provided with an upwardly extending threaded shank 28 arranged to thread into the upper portion 2T, which is bored and threaded at 2S) to receive the shank. In assembling the device the channel bar T is first fixed to the supporting members 3 as stated, and the inverted U member together with the lower portion 26 of the rod 12 and spring 1G placed in position. The top portion 27 of the rod 12 is then screwed onto the shank 28 to the position illust-rated in Fig. 2, whereupon the spring 25 and the inverted cup 23 are placed around the rod 12. The packing means and the glass plates are then put in place over the upper end of the rod 12 and the nut 15 screwed onto the shank 1l.

After the underside of the nut 15 engages the shoulder 13 of the rod 12 further rotation' ot' the nut causes the upper portion 27 or" the rod 12 to thread downwardly onto the shank 29. rotation of the lower portion 2G of the rod l2 being prevented due to the enlarged lower end or flange 13 which, upon rotation of the portion 2&3, strikes against the inverted U member 10. As the upper porion :2T is thus lowered into position the not i3 engages the upper face of the corrugated strip 21 and forces the glass plates dmvnwardly. At the same time, however, the lower end 2G of the rod is forced upwa rdly against the tension of the spring 16, w:- that when the parts are assembled the flange 13 extends a certain distance'above the base of the channel bar 7 to permit downward movement of the glass panes against the tension of the sprinor when this becomes necessary.

So far as I am aware. no means has been i riinative to their supporting members. The

devices employed have used stationary or non-flexible means against which the underside ot' the strip or the packing means rests. 1 wish it to be understood, however, that the arrangement ot the spring 1G and its cooperating parts can be used 'without the employment of the spring the lower tace oi' the strip 22 resting. in such a construction, against a stationary support such as has been employed in the past.

lla ving thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by vVnited States Letters `Patent is:

l. A skylight structure comprising a glass pane, a helical compression spring forming a support therefor on the inner side there of and a second helical compression spring disposed on the inner side of the pane and concentric with the first mentioned spring for pressing the pane against the support.

2. In a skylight construction the provision of means for flexibly supportingr the adjacent edges'of the glass panes comprising, a channel bar lying parallel with and under the adjacent edges of the glass panes, an inverte'd U member carried by the bar and provided with a central aperture, a rod extending between the glass panes and through the aperture in the U member, a flange on the inner end of the rod, a helical compression spring interposed between the flange and the U member tending to move the rod inwardly, an enlarged head at the outer end of the rod and a helical compression spring disposed around the U member and rod between the underside of the glass panes and the channel bar.

3. In a skylight construction the provision of means for flexibly supporting the adjacent edges of glass panes, comprising, a channel bar lying parallel with and under the adjacent edges of the glass panes. an inverted U member carried by thebar and provided with a cent al aperture, a rod extending between the glass panes and through the aperture in the U member, a flange carried at the inner end ot' the rod, a helical compression spring disposed around the rod between the flange and the U member tending to move the rod inwardly, an enlarged head at the outer end of the rod. an inverted tapering cup resting against the underside of the glass panes and having a central aperture through whiclrthc rod extends, and a helical compression spring disposed around the U member and rod and between the inverted cup and the channel bar.

4. In a skylight construction the combination of glass panes, a support on the inner side thereof, a longitudinally contractible rod extending between the edges of the panes` a flange provided on the inner end of the rod, a spring abutment carried by the support and positioned intermediate the flange and the glass panes, a compression spring interposed between the flange and the abutment tending to move the said rod inwardly, and means carried at the outer end ot' the rod for engaging the outer sides of the glass panes.

ln a skylight construction the combination of glass panes, a support on the inner side thereof, a longitudinallycontractible bolt extending between the edges of the panes, a -Hange provided on theinner end ol the bolt, a spring abutment carried by the support and positioned intermediate the flange and the glass panes, a compression spring interposed between the flange and the abutment tending to move the bolt inwardly, and a nut provided on the outer end ot' the rod.

6. In a skylight construction the provision of means for flexibly supporting the adjacent edges of glass panes comprising a channel bar lying parallel with and under the adjacent edges of the glass panes,'an inverted U member carried by the bar and provided with a central aperture, a longitudinally enlargea'ble rod extending between the glass panes and through the aperture in the U member, a flange provided on the inner end of the rod, a compression spring interj'iosed between the flange and the il member tending to move the rod in wardly, an enlarged head at the outer end ot' the rod and a compression spring disposed around the U member and rod and between the underside of the glass panes and the channel bar,

7. In a skylight the combination of glass panes, a supportl therefor on the inner side thereof, a helical com-pression spring be tween the underside of the panes and the support. and a longitudinally enlargeable rod extending between the panes of glass and secured to the support, said rod being provided at its outer end. with an enlarged portion a nged to Iengage'the outer faces of the g s Hanes.

8. in a i light construction the provision oi .means or supporting the adjacent edges ot" glass panes comprising packing means covering the edges of the panes on the outer an(L inner sides thereof, a channel bar on the inner side of the glass, a rod extending lietween the panes through the packing and prorirfled with an'enlarged outer end bearing against the outer packing, a flange carried by the inner end of the rod, a spring abutment carried by the channel bar and disposed intermediate the flange and the said inner packing, a compression spring interposed between the flange and the abutment, and a helical compression spring carried by the channel bar Jfor supporting the underside of .the inner packing.

9. In a skylight the provision of means for supporting the adjacent edges of glass panes comprising, packing means covering the edges of the panes on the outer and inner sides thereof, a channel bar on the inner side of the glass, a rod extending between the panes through the packing and provided with an enlarged outer end bearing against the outer packing, a flange carried by the inner end of the rod, a spring abutment carried by the channel bar and disposed intermediate the flange and the said inner packing, a compression spring interposed between the flange and the abutment, and a. second compression spring interposed between the channel bar and the underside of the inner packing.

10. In a skylight construction the provision of means for supporting the adjacent edges of glass panes comprising, packing means covering the edges of the panes on the outer and inner sides thereof, a channel bar on the inner side of the glass, a rod extending between the panes through the packing and provided with an enlarged outer end bearing against the outer packing, a flange carried by the inner end of the rod, a spring abutment carried by the channel bar and disposed intermediate the flange and the said inner packing, a compression spring interposed between the flange and the abutment, an inverted cup provided with a central aperture through which the rod extends, resting against the underside of the inner packing and a compression spring between the cup and the channel bar.

ll. In a skylight construction the combination o a support, glass panes, a compression Ispriiig acting 'between the innerside of the panes and the support and a second compression spring acting between the support and the outside of the panes, both springs being concentrically disposed on the inner side ot the glass panes.

ln witness whereof, hereunto subscribemy naine this (3th dav of May, A; l). i916.

MORRIS SILVERMA. i'litn'esses Renner l?. Bencini,v Linn C. AHLBERG. 

